Dream of International Educator Exchange Is Coming True!

Hello Elementary Friends,

Over a year ago in December 2014, I threw my hat in the ring to be considered for a year long international educator exchange for 2016.  This is an opportunity that I have considered and even dreamed about for several years.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the chance that I have had to work in educational systems in two different states, so the idea of learning about and working within an educational system internationally is especially intriguing to me!  The State of Colorado has an organization called Colorado International Teacher Exchange League (CITEL).  Here is a link to their website. 



I applied with this organization and through the application process I had the opportunity to be considered for exchanges within Australia or Canada.  Mitch and I discussed it at length and decided that if we were going to be gone for a year we might as well go all the way to the other side of the world!  The waiting process began after the application was submitted.  Finding a “match” is quite a process.  The Australian schools run on the calendar year, so the educators there do not have to apply until around March of the year for the following school year.  After a few possibilities were presented – one as a 6th grade teacher at a middle school and another as a half-time principal and half-time reading teacher in the middle of the Australian Bush, I became rather disillusioned that a match for me might not be found!  Finally – just before school was out in May, I received a call that would alter my professional career and both Mitch’s and my personal lives forever.  Here is what was presented to me:  

“Karla – we have a potential match at an elementary school just north of Sydney city center in Killara, New South Wales.  The exchange partner, Helen Nemeth, is a Kindergarten-Year Two Assistant Principal with teaching duties.  She would like to exchange as a full-time teacher in the primary grades."

 I told them to give me a day or two to research this possibility and to consider the role that Helen would play at my school in Jeffco.  Of course, the first thing I did was to “google map” the school!  Here it is:


The next thing I did was to “google” the school itself!  Here is a link to the Beaumont Road Public School website:


There are several things about the school that are appealing to me:

1.  The school is nearly the same size as Mortensen Elementary in Jeffco.  It has around 400 students in grades Kindergarten through Sixth. 

2.  It has a high ranking academically within public schools in Sydney and in the state of New South Wales.  Here is rank listing of over 2800 schools in New South Wales with Beaumont Road coming in at #37.  



Here is a rank listing of the top 100 schools in the Sydney area with Beaumont Road coming in at #15!



3.  I really like the idea of the Assistant Principals (there are three of them) all having teaching duties.  I am eager to see how this works to assist the principal, but still be actively engaged in the teaching and learning within the school. 

Here are some photos of Beaumont Road School:





Front of School

Children on Playground

Nature Field Trip

Outside Classrooms

So, with much excitement and some trepidation I submitted my acceptance and we began making plans!  I could not announce it publicly until after my teachers came back on duty in August and it was formally approved by the Jefferson County Public Schools Board of Education.  On August 11thI announced it to the Mortensen staff and then sent a letter to the Mortensen Community.  All of my Mortensen family members have been cautiously supportive.  Of course, they are concerned about me being gone for a year, but they are eager to bring this new learning to our school and community.  They have also made me promise that I will return – which I have delightfully agreed to!

Next week (12/10) I will tell you more about the area that we will live in and some more of what I know about Beaumont Road Public School!  Stay tuned!


Location: Littleton, CO, USA

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